Indianapolis, IN - Media Review Quotes

Def Leppard Proves Less Can Be More By Marc D. Allan

The crowd seemed to like it; I know I found it infinately superior to the windbag approach the band took four years ago when every song lasted six minutes or more and the laser lights took precedence over the music.

For this tour, the songs are king, and Def Leppard is treating them with care. The set list included a balance of old fan favorites -- Photograph, Hysteria, Foolin' and Pour Some Sugar On Me among them -- as well as five cuts from the band's new disc Slang.

Of course, this is lightweight fare at best, full of glittering generalities and easy-to-remember themes sung with sugar-coated close harmonies: "Have you ever wanted someone so bad?"; "All I want is everything/is that too much to ask?"; "rock, rock, to the top."

It's party rock, first, last and always, and pacing is key. That's why it was so refreshing to hear Def Leppard stay aggressive. Joe Elliott refrained from chatter and put his energies into singing convincingly, drummer Rick Allen kept a steady beat and guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell held their worst instincts in check, taking a less-is-more approach to solos (until the encore, anyway).

They made an hour and 45 minutes go by painlessly.

By Indianapolis Star 1996.

Read the full review at - indystar.com

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